Staff editorial: It is your government, not theirs

By Sun Advocate

They’d like to portray it to you differently, and sometimes try to make it theirs.
It is yours, not theirs.
Bureaucrats at all levels and many elected officials will often try to take ownership of what they control in government. This happens at the federal, state and local level. But no matter the level, that operation is not their private domain, regardless of what actions they take.
It is yours, not theirs.
Over the years I have worked in a couple of government institutions.
As a manager in these operations I always encouraged employees to treat their departments like they were theirs; I wanted them to take pride and ownership in what they did and how they did it. But some would go overboard, and begin to think what they were obligated to do also gave them the right to think that they owned their empire. They were wrong.
It is yours, not theirs.
My experience with government tells me that way too many people who run government offices, control government budgets and manage government operations have taken a liking to the power they have and want to keep it to themselves. But their power is only perceived power; something they believe in their heads they have.
It is yours, not theirs.
That power lies in the Constitution, and it belongs to all the people. Part of that power comes from the word of law, part from the might of the ballot box. Everyday we can use our power of the Constitution. We can stand up for our rights that are described there. Next Tuesday you can use the ballot box to influence your local government and the direction which it is headed. Just remember one thing.
It is yours, not theirs.